William Russell Wallace (The Wading Girl, Tim Barry)

This is a bit of a different episode. On Aug 12, 2026 my dear friend Billy Wallace took his life. He was such an incredible person, songwriter, and author who performed all across this nation. 

When I was first starting this podcast I recorded a short interview with Billy in his car outside of The Parlour in Providence, RI. I never released it. Now seems like a fitting time. He shared a bit about his journey and what Rhode Island meant to him. Billy was not from the Ocean State, but he toured here constantly and, as you'll hear, he believed this was the location he spent the most time for a place he never lived.

We spent so much time together and had so many conversations. I'm grateful I was able to have this conversation with him and document it. He was brilliant and I am so sad I will never be able to talk with him or play music with him again.

Please check out all of his music by searching William Russell Wallace, Billy Wallace & the Virginia Blues, or The Wading Girl.

At the end of the episode I included a couple rare acoustic demos as well as one of my favorite songs by him. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Love your friends. Tell them you love them.

Outro song order:

• "San Jacinto" (acoustic demo). Studio version can be found on William Russell Wallace's album, Dirty Soul
• "The Timing" from William Russell Wallace's album, Confidence Man
• "St. James" (acoustic demo). Studio version can be found on Billy Wallace & the Virginia Blues' album, The Road Spit Me out

// Interview recorded June 19 , 2019 outside The Parlour in Providence, RI
// Intro music by Cedros
// Hosted by James Toomey //